My study abroad experience began and ended in the same way: in a Paris train station, completely alone, with heavy bags and a slightly concerning lack of sleep. While both me and the train stations looked practically the same, there could not have been more of a difference between myself in January and myself in May. 

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Studying abroad had been something I had dreamed of doing for years, and I was both excited and terrified. I wanted to both see the world and learn more about myself, and, as a method of doing this, I had decided to land in Paris a few days before needing to be in Montpellier- the city in the south of France that I was studying in- and explore some on my own. I had always struggled with spending time alone, and I thought that seeing a new city would give me a chance to work on this. I had never spoken French outside of the classroom. The fact that I didn’t have a SIM card and therefore no directions led me to wandering the city streets for hours, in the rain, with heavy bags. I was too nervous about my French and too out of my element to ask for help. I ended my day finally asking for help in English (and embarrassingly almost crying about it) and making my way to the Airbnb I was staying in s. All I could think was that I had so much to be worried about.

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Flash forward to May. I was back in Paris to fly back to the United States, I got off a overnight bus from Prague, and I was about a million times more confident than I had been in January. I had just spent 10 days solo traveling, something a past version of me never would have had the confidence to do. I had spent the semester with some of the best friends I’d ever made, and I was WhatsApp messaging them about my journey. I sat on the train to the airport, and, at one point, a mother and her 3 kids sat next to and across from me. The toddler next to me leaned his head on my arm and nodded off. I sat perfectly still, not wanting to disturb him. The mother noticed and, in French, began to quickly apologize and moved to wake up her child. In French I didn’t even need to think about before it came out of my mouth, I quickly responded “oh it’s fine! He can sleep here. Not a problem at all!” 

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I lived with a host family that I would describe as perfect. My host mother and host father were chatty and kind. My host mother made a point to get my roommate-- and I to speak French as much as possible. At first, I was nervous to speak due to the fact I knew I would have so many mistakes. She told me, though, that if I never spoke I would never get better. As time went on, I became more confident in my speaking abilities. I began to speak without hesitating first to think the sentence over in my head. 

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I learned not only how to improve my French speaking abilities, but also about the culture of France. Spring of 2023 was a tumultuous time for France, and the words “grève (strike),” “blocage (blockage),” and “retraite (retirement)” became parts of our vocabulary as protestors took to the street against a government reform that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. For my roommate and I, this at first was strange. We talked with our host family about how work culture is different between the US and France, and quickly learned about the value of the work life balance in France, and how retirement is so important for older French citizens to get to travel and spend time with family. It is not a luxury. It is considered a necessary part of life.  I was at first annoyed by near weekly blockages of public transportation, my main method of getting around, but soon came to understand why the French were fighting for what they were. We also saw the importance of work life balance as it relates to food. Meals were important times for reconnecting with friends and family about the day. I have carried this back home, and try to make my meal times more “French,” cooking, eating, and discussing the world with my friends.

The idea of work- life balance translated also into university. This, we were told, is mostly because students are encouraged to pursue things other than just academics while in university. It is considered a time for growing up and exploring yourself. Students are also encouraged to discuss topics in class with the professor instead of just receiving a straight lecture in order to increase their understanding of said topics. 

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I took this idea of exploration with me while traveling through much of Europe. My program encouraged us to travel, especially with the two 10 day breaks and multiple long weekends that the French university system had. Through traveling to places such as Rome, Barcelona, or Amsterdam, I got to see history that dates back thousands of years. As a history lover, this was a breath-taking experience for me. I loved spending time in places where people had lived thousands of years before me and getting to see the marks that they had left behind. I would make a point to not only see “touristy” sites (although I saw plenty of them and loved them. I maintain they are popular for a reason), but also lesser known areas. For example, I will never forget the hike in what was essentially the Croatian wilderness with two of my best friends, fueled by cheap cappuccinos and Croatian pastries. We were alone on the trail, with nothing but a loose itinerary and the mountains, and had the opportunity to learn about each other while taking in the view. 

 

Studying abroad was an experience that I will never forget. It taught me more about myself, different cultures, and the world around me. It solidified in me that I want to one day work abroad, and that I want to take time in my life to travel and see more of the world. It greatly helped my French skills, and I now have the confidence and skill to better communicate with native French speakers around me.